Lighthouse Transitional Care Volunteer Application

Lighthouse is a Christ-focused nonprofit organization in Riga, Latvia. We work with young adults aged out of the orphan care system or from difficult family backgrounds. Our goal is to mentor and lead them toward healthy adulthood. We do this by building mentoring relationships, teaching practical life skills and creating a safe, trusting space that our youth can thrive in.

The youth Lighthouse serves have experienced complex trauma. To help them heal, we use a model of care called Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). TBRI prioritizes connection and safe relationships. Volunteers are given TBRI training to better understand how to engage and connect with our youth.

Lighthouse also values and understands the importance of a varied and diverse team of volunteers. As such, Lighthouse offers a three-leveled approach to volunteering. Volunteers may work their way up through the levels or remain at a level they feel the most comfortable with.

Level 1 Volunteer (L1V): Focuses on establishing your role within Lighthouse Transitional Care

  • Assist with class/event set-up and clean-up

  • Childcare during classes/events

  • Engage with youth during classes/events

  • Prepare snacks

  • Attend one class per week and one event per month for no less that one semester

  • Other Opportunities

Level 2 Mentor (L2M): Focuses on deepening relationships made as an L1V with youth

  • Meet and engage with mentee twice per month

  • Encourage mentee to achieve goals from their Evaluation Map

  • Model and help teach emotional regulation skills to mentee

  • Encourage mentee accountability 

  • Attend trainings including more in-depth TBRI Training

  • Regularly attend classes/events

Level 3 Teacher (L3T): Focuses on applying experience and knowledge in a formal class setting

  • Assist in development of curriculum for various life-skills classes

  • Teach a Life-Skills Class on varying topics including financial management, health and wellness, managing interpersonal relationships, home improvement, etc. 

  • Maintain mentor-mentee relationship